Technology changes the face of Treasure Coast classrooms

ERIC HASERT/TREASURE COAST NEWSPAPERS Images from the Zero Robotics camp at Gifford Middle School on Tuesday. The camp, sponsored by NASA and Massachusetts Institute of Technology, is all about getting students excited about science through the Zero Robotics game by creating computer programs to be used to help a satellite clean up space junk.

The day when students won’t be lugging around heavy backpacks full of bulky textbooks is coming.

While still a couple of years away, Treasure Coast school officials are planning to issue digital devices to all students for use in the classroom and at home.

As local school districts figure out how they’ll comply with a state law that requires them to provide textbooks in a digital format by the 2015-16 school year, this school year they will launch pilot tests of devices and policies.

The districts also are expanding Bring Your Own Device programs where students are encouraged to bring personal laptops, tablets, iPods and smartphones to class.

“We’re spending our time this year letting kids bring their devices, piloting a variety of devices, so that when we do invest in our students’ technology, we know it’s going to meet all of their needs that they need to do in class,” said Bruce Green, Indian River County School District’s assistant superintendent of technology and assessment.

Technology in education

School officials agree technology has transformed the classroom, especially in the past decade.

The overhead projectors have been replaced by LCD projectors and document cameras. Chalkboards were replaced first with dry erase boards and most of those have been replaced by SmartBoards or interactive white boards, which allow teachers to easily include the Internet in their lessons.

In the last five years, laptops and netbooks have become more popular and handheld wireless devices like the iPad and Kindle were invented.

The districts have put content, including access to encyclopedias and other resources, online, which can help students with homework and assignments.

“I believe technology has really changed instruction over the years by making it more accessible,” said Terence O’Leary, St. Lucie’s assistant superintendent of Information Technology Services. “Students have access to the content 24-7 as opposed to a 7 ½ hour school day.”

More high-tech tools

The growth of high-tech tools doesn’t replace the importance of good teaching, said Katie Preston, Martin County School District’s director of educational technology.

“It’s a supplement to enhance education and engage our students,” Preston said. “If they’re excited about what they’re doing in the classroom and the tools they get to use then they are going to be more excited about what they’re learning.”

In the past, when a student was caught using a cellphone or other handheld computerized device, that would warrant a detention. Recently, school districts have revised policies and student codes of conduct to allow handheld devices if approved by a teacher or school official.

Schools, which still ban students from accessing popular social media sites like Facebook and Twitter on school campuses, are now embracing educational social media tools. These tools, which vary by county, are protected sites.

“Students are engaged in that technology at home all the time and if they come to school and aren’t engaged in that technology, we can’t think they’re going to have any kind of active learning going on,” Green said. “This helps them communicate in terms they understand.”

The challenges

Adding technology to lessons isn’t as simple as just letting students bring their own devices to learn, educators say.

There are many issues to consider such as compatibility with the districts’ computer networks, potential viruses with students’ devices, problems with students finding inappropriate Internet sites and students who don’t have their own devices to bring.

“You can’t have Bring Your Own Devices as the answer to everything because they can’t test on all their different devices,” Green said.

The BYOD programs don’t require, just allow technology, so parents aren’t required to buy tablets and smartphones for their children, school officials say. When the technology becomes required, the school districts will have to supply it.

The biggest challenge facing districts is how to afford the devices, extended warranties and accessories.

By issuing iPads and other devices through small pilot programs, officials hope to get a better handle on what device best fits students’ needs and negotiate costs.

“We’d love to have more devices in the hands of our students but cost is a huge issue,” Preston said. “Everybody’s trying different things but nobody really has the right answer.”

Technology and Parents

Technology has increased student engagement by making lessons more interactive and hands-on.

It’s also increased parent engagement and participation in recent years as districts have upgraded the amount of information available to parents online.

Parents no longer have to wait for report card day to know how their child is faring in class. Through the districts’ online gradebooks, they can keep up with attendance and assignment grades daily.

“Kids may not like it that their parents can know if they’re in class and where they’re supposed to be,” O’Leary said.

Parents can set up alerts so they can see if a grade drops beyond a certain point, Green said.

“It definitely gives us a way to engage parents that you just can’t do one-on-one,” he said.

TECHNOLOGY PROS and CONS

PROS

Increased engagement: Allows students to connect with one another, teachers, people and resources beyond school walls.

Enrichment: Provides access to extra, interactive resources

Going green: Decreases paper and photocopying costs

Instant access: With wireless access, students can access content wherever and whenever they want.

Differentiated instruction: Teachers can use technology in ways to best suit their students’ individual needs and interests.

CONS

Costs: Expensive and devices will need to be replaced every couple years.

Wi-Fi: Not all families can afford Internet access and wireless access is needed to take full advantage of the device.

Incompatible: When students bring their own devices, not all are compatible with networks and there’s the potential of viruses.

Bad behavior: Some students will explore beyond the bounds and parameters and become distracted by other activities that they find on the Internet..

Assistance: Parents who aren’t tech-savvy will have harder time helping children with studies.

Indian River: Launches its districtwide program this year. Teachers must have an approved educational plan. Parents will be notified when their children have permission to bring devices to class.

Martin: South Fork High launches a program this year.

St. Lucie: Manatee Academy, Morningside Elementary and Treasure Coast High expands its program, which started in November 2011.

Device pilots

Indian River: Some Oslo Middle eighth-grade students will use iPads in science class. The district is getting two classroom sets of 24 iPads with grant funding.

Martin: Hobe Sound and Citrus Grove elementaries’ second-graders will receive a device to use at school — iPads at Hobe Sound, Chromebooks for half of Citrus second-graders and Samsung Ativ ultrabooks for the rest.

St. Lucie: Purchasing 60 Dell tablets for two schools’ programs — 30 for Southern Oaks Middle and 30 for a Title I school.